Grimsby Town boss Russell Slade is hoping a new partnership with the Grimsby Institute will be another step towards improving fitness and performance analysis.

The link-up will see the squad have regular sessions on campus, using facilities and equipment at the purpose-built sports centre.

This collaboration means that the club can use the staff expertise to run professional standard exercises, and also call on students to help. Students on BTEC and HND Sports Science courses get the chance to work on a 'live project'.

Speaking of the new initiative, Grimsby Town manager Russell Slade said: “There are great facilities here and top-drawer equipment that helps us collect all the player data we need.

"Doing this helps to improve the players and should also lower the amount of injuries we have.

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“Sports science has had a big influence in football over recent years. It’s all about how you use players and whether you need to higher or lower the loads they have.

“This collaboration is opening doors for students to learn and to also use what they’ve learnt. We want that interaction with the Institute to help us but to also give the students the chance to come and work with elite level athletes.”

Centre-half Danny Collins said that training has come a long way since he began his career in the mid-90s.

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He said: “You know what’s coming when it gets to pre-season. You have to look after yourself well throughout the year. The lads at the Institute have been great with us and it’s useful that they take care of all the data.

“Football clubs learned through the years that it’s not just about slogging the players and getting them running, but more about the conditioning and how to best utilise the time and exercises.”

The partnership has been set up by curriculum manager Paul Brackenbury, and former Town striker Daryl Clare - who is currently finishing his HND Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University Centre.